Honda CRV owners, lend me your ear

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by pduggs

I don’t mean to be overly critical of the CRV, but many here have mentioned it’s faults including me. Another fault came to mind yesterday, when I fueled up the vehicle. It has a tiny tank. 13 gallons is all it carries. You get to a quarter tank very quickly.

I just Googled the specs on the 2013 Honda CRV AWD and it says the fuel tank capacity is 15.3 gallons.

[docj]

Originally Posted by pduggs

I don’t mean to be overly critical of the CRV, but many here have mentioned it’s faults including me. Another fault came to mind yesterday, when I fueled up the vehicle. It has a tiny tank. 13 gallons is all it carries. You get to a quarter tank very quickly.

It's my understanding that fuel tanks in vehicles are typically sized so the vehicle can drive about 350-400 miles on a tank. That's about the range we get on a tank in our CR-V when on the highway.

[docj]

Having never experienced the "CR-V shuddering" problem that a number of people have spoken, I did a little reading on the topic. From what I can see, changing the transmission fluid regularly seems to be one of the "preventative or curative" measures. Because I've been overly cautious with mine with respect to towing it, the fluid has already been changed 3 times, at 30k, ~60k and 90k miles. I'll keep my fingers crossed that may have helped me avoid the problem.

A number of the posts I read seemed to tie the shudder to the use of the vehicle's ECO mode. I have to admit that I abhorred how the vehicle performed in ECO mode and I haven't used it at all from the first day I owned it. I'm pretty sure that using ECO mode changes the shift points and probably results in upshifts at lower speeds. The shudder could easily be related to "lugging" the transmission due to the earlier upshift.

[Kluffinator]

Originally Posted by MSHappyCampers

Could you provide a link to those?

MSHappy
This is where I go for CRV specific topics.


https://www.crvownersclub.com/

Randy

[Kluffinator]

Originally Posted by docj

Having never experienced the "CR-V shuddering" problem that a number of people have spoken, I did a little reading on the topic. From what I can see, changing the transmission fluid regularly seems to be one of the "preventative or curative" measures. Because I've been overly cautious with mine with respect to towing it, the fluid has already been changed 3 times, at 30k, ~60k and 90k miles. I'll keep my fingers crossed that may have helped me avoid the problem.

A number of the posts I read seemed to tie the shudder to the use of the vehicle's ECO mode. I have to admit that I abhorred how the vehicle performed in ECO mode and I haven't used it at all from the first day I owned it. I'm pretty sure that using ECO mode changes the shift points and probably results in upshifts at lower speeds. The shudder could easily be related to "lugging" the transmission due to the earlier upshift.

I never experienced the chudder in ECO mode. Just normal. But frequent transmission fluid changes fixed it. Changing the fluid is no more difficult than changing the oil and it only amount to 2.7 quarts at a time so no big deal. If you do that yourself that is.

[Sonic]

Originally Posted by docj

Having never experienced the "CR-V shuddering" problem that a number of people have spoken, I did a little reading on the topic. From what I can see, changing the transmission fluid regularly seems to be one of the "preventative or curative" measures. Because I've been overly cautious with mine with respect to towing it, the fluid has already been changed 3 times, at 30k, ~60k and 90k miles. I'll keep my fingers crossed that may have helped me avoid the problem.

A number of the posts I read seemed to tie the shudder to the use of the vehicle's ECO mode. I have to admit that I abhorred how the vehicle performed in ECO mode and I haven't used it at all from the first day I owned it. I'm pretty sure that using ECO mode changes the shift points and probably results in upshifts at lower speeds. The shudder could easily be related to "lugging" the transmission due to the earlier upshift.

Under light acceleration the engine will shake like it’s about to stall at around 1800 rpm. Yes, the same behavior as when a manual transmission in a gear that’s too high. Pressing slightly down on the accelerator gets through that rough patch (rpm becomes appropriate for the gear the transmission is in)
I never use eco mode. Honda’s first tier fix is a software update (most likely to delay the shift point) and fluid change. If the problem returns the follow up TSB indicates to replace the torque converter.

Note: my issues are with the 4th generation CR-V which started with the 2012 model year. Some of you may have 3rd generation or earlier.

[sluper]

Here is the TSB's from Honda on the"Shudder" and the link was posted above for the Honda Forum website.



hello people; A co-worker was just telling me that he had the same issue. The dealer replaced the fluid (witch isn't much) and they did a upgrade with the computer and it went away. It was like $150 that he said should of been covered...
IBBY
Your co-worker is correct, Honda has two TSBs for this issue. The first is to try a software and fluid change.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10108756-9999.pdf

If that didn't work or comes back the next fix is to replace the lockup torque converter in the transmission.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/MC-10108737-9999.pdf

While Honda extended the warranty for this problem on 2012-2014 CRV, they only extended it for 8 yrs / 80,000 miles.

The issue is a "slip / stick" condition of the lockup clutch in the torque converter.



ADD LUBEGAURD RED (anti shudder) on the last fill and enjoy no more shuddering.

[docj]

Originally Posted by Sonic

Under light acceleration the engine will shake like it’s about to stall at around 1800 rpm. Yes, the same behavior as when a manual transmission in a gear that’s too high. Pressing slightly down on the accelerator gets through that rough patch (rpm becomes appropriate for the gear the transmission is in)

I'm still speculating, but we have an 2014 EX-L with the automatic climate control. Early on I learned that I could set the A/C so that it was always on rather than allowing the system to turn the compressor off if it though it could achieve the set temp with just fresh air and no compressor. We live in a hot, humid climate and IMO the AC is needed all the time and this "fix" forces it to do that.

I know that having the compressor running results in a slightly faster idle; I wonder if it has any other effects? What I'm driving at is maybe we've never experienced the "shudder" because of how we have the vehicle configured.

[UFO Pilot]

I bought my 06 CRV new and it now has 125,000 on the odometer and another 75,000 behind the MH. I added a Toad Charge and that solved the dead battery issue. Just had a problem with hard to start, and after researching I replaced the starter and problem solved. I agree about the seats being very uncomfortable after a couple of hours driving.

[spuds]

Originally Posted by lockinload

I'm looking for a different toad. It looks like a CRV Automatic can be towed 4 wheels down, is this accurate?

Only if it is a 2014 or older.

2015 and newer have a CVT transmission and are not towable 4-down.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Kluffinator

MSHappy
This is where I go for CRV specific topics.


https://www.crvownersclub.com/

Randy

Thanks!

[Sonic]

I decided to take mine in today, and they agreed that the "judder" problem is covered, as well as the broken VCT actuator.

Great, no problem, only to find two hours later that the VCT actuator problem often causes the timing chain to stretch and I was the lucky winner among thousands of others complaining on message boards about the VCT actuator/stretched timing chain combination.
Of course the stretched timing chain is not covered in the TSB, so that's $1,200 and the dealership won't do the actuator without replacing the timing chain, so the cost is inline with what I was quoted by indy shops.

Oh, and when that actuator breaks again (which it has been reported to do), you'll most likely need another timing chain replacement.

I normally do extensive research before buying a car, but I figured it's just a toad that will rarely be driven when we're home, how could I go wrong with a pre-owned Honda? Lesson learned.

[Wrascal]

I'm on my third CRV and never had any problems with them (98, 16, now a 14).

But I have the Honda dealer maintain them according to the maintenance schedule. YMMV.

[jjnickeson]

We tow a Ford Edge. Great vehicle and tows great, only caveat is you have to shift the transmission through the gears every 300 miles. We stop more often than that anyway